The staff of Sloat Higgins Jensen and Associates are seasoned legislative and executive experts. Their past positions include: Executive Branch Legislative Secretary, Legislative Chief of Staff, Chief Deputy and Chief Legislative Advisor for two California Governors, legislative advocate for the California Chamber of Commerce, chief of staff to the Democratic Senate Majority Leader, staff director to the Senate Judiciary Committee and Deputy Legislative Secretary for Governor Schwarzenegger. Sloat Higgins Jensen and Associates’ comprehensive knowledge of California’s Government is the key to their advocacy effectiveness.

Kevin Sloat

Kevin Sloat is the principal and founder of Sloat Higgins Jensen and Associates, a full-service lobbying firm based in Sacramento.

Mr. Sloat brings nearly 25 years of experience in state government to the firm. Mr. Sloat has served in both the Executive and the Legislative Branch during his career. Mr. Sloat has served as both an Executive Branch Legislative Secretary and as Legislative Chief of Staff.

Mr. Sloat supervised legislative operations in 81 state departments in the Executive Branch.  He developed an expertise on California’s state budget process, and is widely regarded as an expert on California’s Legislative process.

Mr. Sloat is highly regarded in Sacramento both as a legislative strategist and as a direct lobbyist.  Mr. Sloat started his lobbying practice in 1997 with one support staff and it quickly grew into one of the most influential lobbying firms in California.  He has successfully guided many major legislative initiatives for a variety of large corporate and public sector clients.  He is also recognized as an expert on the development and advocacy of State Budget projects.

Maureen Higgins

As managing partner, Maureen Higgins brings a wide breadth of governmental experience to the firm. Ms. Higgins has served as the Chief Deputy, and as the Chief Legislative Advisor for two California Governors, directing the advocacy efforts of over 50 state departments and agencies, advising the Governor on over 2000 pieces of legislation a year and working closely with the Department of Finance and the legislature in ensuring passage of the annual state budget.

She also served as Executive Director of the California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA), the state’s mortgage bank. CalHFA serves the housing needs of low and moderate-income individuals by providing mortgage insurance and below-market interest rate mortgage capital through the sale of tax-exempt bonds. Ms. Higgins also served as Director of the Department of Housing and Community Development, administering approximately $650 million for various housing assistance programs. An attorney, she has also lobbied for the Attorney General.

For the last several years, Ms. Higgins has worked extensively on legislative issues in the affordable housing, health, insurance, education and business-related fields.

Kelly Jensen

As partner, Kelly Jensen brings over 20 years of political and policy experience to Sloat Higgins Jensen and Associates. Previously, Mr. Jensen served as chief legislative advocate to the California Chamber of Commerce where he managed lobbying efforts on a wide range of issues including environmental regulation, employee relations, tort reform and insurance.

Before working with the Chamber, he served in a variety of roles in the California State Senate including chief of staff to the Democratic Senate Majority Leader and staff director to the Senate Judiciary Committee. After graduation from the University of California, Irvine, Mr. Jensen worked as a district aide to Congressman Howard Berman.

Mr. Jensen has worked on over 20 Democratic campaigns. He has very strong ties to the Latino and Moderate Democratic Caucuses, having worked for three Latino office holders.

Moira Topp

Moira Topp has over 15 years of legislative experience with an extensive background in policy and fiscal matters. Ms. Topp most recently served as a legislative advocate for the California Chamber of Commerce, representing and advocating on behalf of over 15,000 small and large employers before the Legislature, the Administration and the courts. Prior to her position with the California Chamber, Ms. Topp served as Deputy Legislative Secretary for Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. In her capacity in the Governor’s Office, she handled workers’ compensation, business, transportation, labor, and taxation issues. She was responsible for advising the Governor and developing initiatives in her policy fields and oversaw, coordinated and directed legislative and policy strategies for the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency and Labor and Workforce Development Agency. Additionally, she was Governor Schwarzenegger’s co-lead in negotiating multi-billion dollar workers’ compensation reform and led legislative negotiations for the Governor on Bay Bridge legislation.

Prior to her work for Governor Schwarzenegger, she served in a variety of roles in the state capitol including senior consultant to Senator Chuck Poochigian, senior consultant to the Assembly Republican Fiscal Office and Assistant Secretary for Legislation in the Trade and Commerce Agency under Governor Wilson. Ms. Topp graduated from the University of California at Davis with bachelor’s degrees in Political Science and Economics.

Carolyn J. Veal-Hunter

Carolyn J. Veal-Hunter, a licensed attorney, brings over 15 years of legislative, legal and management experience to the firm. Ms. Veal-Hunter has served as both a Principal Consultant and a Chief Consultant to the Assembly Utilities and Commerce Committee under the direction of two chairpersons.

Most recently, Ms. Veal-Hunter was the Director of Government Affairs for a Fortune 100 company. She has also served as a corporate-level executive, Business Consultant and General Counsel for Fortune 500 companies, State and Federal public agencies and nonprofit advocacy organizations.

Ms. Veal-Hunter brings a unique understanding of California’s state agencies, where she has provided organization and management consulting services to over 15 departments within the State, including the California Department of Insurance, Department of Industrial Relations, State Controller’s Office and others. Ms. Veal-Hunter has also represented clients before the State Board of Equalization and has specific expertise regarding the California Public Utilities Commission.